Delaware County criminal defense attorney Enrique Latoison offered his legal analysis on the Eric Ruch murder case today on NBC 10. Ruch is on trial for third-degree murder in the shooting death of unarmed black man Dennis Plowden. “The DA’s office says it’s the first murder trial of an on-duty cop in the city’s history,” Latoison said the case will hinge on whether or not the jury believes Ruch’s claim that he feared for his life when he shot Plowden. “It’s going to be a very difficult case for the prosecution,” Latoison said. “But if they can prove that Ruch did not act reasonably, then I think they have a good chance of convicting him.” Watch also: Legal commentary on Ahmaud Arbery’s murder trial.
A former Philadelphia police officer is on trial for third-degree murder in the shooting death of an unarmed black man. The District Attorney’s office says it’s the first murder trial of an on-duty cop in the city’s history. During opening statements this morning, the prosecution argued former officer Eric Ruch Jr. intentionally shot 25-year-old Dennis Plowden. The two were involved in a brief chase in Germantown in December of 2017. The shooting happened less than 6 seconds after Ruch’s car arrived on the scene. But the defense says Ruch and his partner were chasing Plowden because he was driving a car investigator say was believed to have been connected to a homicide. Plowden’s widow says she won’t stop fighting until justice is served.
Justice will look like Eric Ruch owning up to what he did, apologizing, and taking accountability for his actions. That’s what justice would look like for me and as of now, we haven’t seen that.
Still waiting, NBC Ten legal analyst Enrique Latoison tells us tonight that because the case involves a police officer, a special section of the criminal code sets up a different standard for a conviction.
And that use of force underneath the statute says that an officer is allowed to use force in effectually an arrest or doing what is a lawful arrest. Also says that they’re allowed to use deadly force and are justified if that officer believes that their life is in danger of serious bodily injury or death.
And for that reason, Enrique says it’s a more difficult case for the prosecution to prove.
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